Loose leaf binder



Feb. 7, 1933. J. c. DAWSON LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Feb. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .fa/zzes afimyson Feb. 7, 1933. J. c. DAWSON LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Feb. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT omc 1 .mmns'o. nawsomor wnns'rnnenovns, MISSOURI, nssrenon lro ZELMA unAwson, or WEBSTER qnovns, MISSOURI A n:

LOOSE LEAF ermine Application filed rebmar es, 1931. Serial no. 519,136.

This invention 'relates'to loose leaf'binders and hasfor its principal object to improve the means for attaching certain types of metals to the backs and to give a better mounting for the booster levers whichopen the rings, and also to formja rugged complete- 1y interlocked sub-assembly from which no parts canbe shaken off in shipment. While the improved features are adaptable to all types vof binders, they are particularly useful in attaching the cheaper class of metals known as the spring-cover type to the book back. Such metals have usually been attached tothe back by means'of a rivet,'but

there are many objections tothis practice.

In the present invention, I provide each end oflthe-me'tal with'a fittingwhich permits the book binder, to use the same'cover attaching means as isused with moreexpensive springback binders. This fitting not only binds the metal strongly to the back, but locks the individual parts of the binder so securely'that they cannot be pulled loose by pulls or jerks upon the prongs, and it also provides a firm support for the booster lever which heretofor'e has been flimsy due to the flexibilityof the spring "coverplate. Once having tooledupto produce fittings for the expensive-binders,a manufacturer can economically extend their use with the more cheaper binders.

These and other objects will become ap parent from the description and the appended drawings in which.

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of a binder in- .3 corporating the invention;

c Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the end portion of the device showing the booster lever and boosterleversupport applied to binders of the spring cover plate Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section through the end portion of the device showing the booster lever and booster lever support applied to binders of'the spring-back IYP F i Fig. 4 is a'bottom plan view of thatfportion of the binder illustrated in'Fig. 2

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on 57-5 of Fig. 2; 1 f

Fig.6 illustrates in perspective the'booster the line gins 14 and 15 of the cover plate l6inwhich A "case the cover plate 16 is-itself a relatively plate engaging shoulder '22.

lever, booster lever support and tog le Plates I s 2, 4 and 5. a V

F-g; '7 illustrates the modified form of wide thumb arm booster lever arrangedto pass beneath the toggle plates and to lift them; Fig. 8' illustrates the booster lever ofFigfT in perspective;

Fig. 9 illustrates a. 'modified form 1015 booster lever and booster lever support shown in .topplan view; 1

Fig. lO]is a vertical, longitudinal section on the line 101'O ofFig. 9;

Fig. illustrates in perspective thebooster 1 lever and booster lever support shown in Fig.9;'

Fig. 12 illustrates a modified booster lever of Fig. 9fassociatedwith the booster lever f support as shown in Fig.16

Fig. 13 is a vertical, longitudinalsection through a binder equipped with a modified e former booster lever arranged to pas'sgbeneath the toggle plates andto liftthem'; and

11 i illustrates in perspective thefform' of booster levershown in Fig.13; y Loose leaf binders of the type illustrated in 1 Fig.1 comprise a pair ot articulated toggle plates 10 and 11 which bear paper-holding prongs 1-2 and1 3." The outer edges of the plates may be'gripped by the hooked'marstiii spring,'or in binders of the spring back type, as shown in Fig. 8,'the toggle plates may be gripped by'the hooked margins of the springibackl'f.

' The s'ipport for the'booster lever oomprises'. an element 18 havinga portion 19 "adapted to close the end of the binderfa tongue 21 which is inserted into the'binde'r and lies parallel to 'the back, and cover 7 When used with binders of 'thespring'cover type, as

shown in Figs. 2,4. and 5, I cause the hooked 'marginsl l and 15 toengage the outeredges 23 and 24-01? the tongue 21." Thebinder is? held to the back by means ofthe loop 25 struck up from" the back26 which] passes through the aperture 27 cut through the tongue. A slot28 cut through the end closure l9 togive clearance to the "key :29 9

I in

r It is not necessary or which overlies the tongue 21 and passes be-" In this manner, theassembly is locked; to

desirable that the the book back.

hooked margins of the spring back 32 or the hooked margins of the cover plate 41 should engage the tongue 33 and consequently, the

tongue is made narrower than is the, pre-- v-ious type.

- Reference wi s. 4 and 6 will 'showthat the toggle plates 10 and llbear transverse slots 42 and 43 out adjacent their ends; A

booster. lever 44 comprises a thumb arm 45,

a fulcrum section46, andanloperating or lifting arm 47 whichis turned downwardly adjacent itsendto form the necked portion 48 and a head 49; A supportand fulcrum.

for the booster lever is formed by the lower wall ofthe slot 51 cut through theend closure 19. Forappearance and sometimes to add stiffness to the lighter gauges of metals,

the thumb arm is transversely curved as in- I dicated. In this instance, thelever is vpivoted only'at the points 52 and 53, but if the fulcrum section 46 be flat, the leverjis pivoted along/a 'line contact, as shown in'FigslO Twomethods of assembly may be adopted: The booster'lever 44 maybe laced in position through the slot :51 with-its necked por-j tion 48 engaged by the slots 42 and 43 of the toggle plates and the margins, either of'the U toggle plates.

spring back or cover plate type, may then be -orimped or. rolled down overthe edges of the By the other method, the toggle plates 10 and 11 are inserted in springs already formed and arethen pried apart sufficiently to allow the insertion of the neck 48 into the slots 42 and 43. In either case, as indicatedin Fig.' ,4, the slots 42 and 43 receive the neck portion '48, and the extensions orwings 54 of the thumb arm 45 lie across thetface. of the 010,- sure 19 Since the booster lever is locked in 1 positionby its engagement with the toggle plates, and the supporting element 18' is prevented from having anylongitudinal move- "ment by the wings 54, 54, a complete subiwithout danger of losingparts. I v 1 In the various figures, the cover engag- V assembly is formed which may be shipped ing portion 22 (in F ig. 2) isshown as placed either above or beneath the cover plate. I

prefer to place theshoulder 22. beneath the "i 5 cover-plate when this has not suflicient stiffnessto prevent flbeing deformed by the In this instance, the key careless application of pressure, for operatorsfrequently press the ends of the binder instead of the thumb arm. I'preferto form V the shoulder 22 so that it overlies a part of the toggle plates 10 and '11. Sincethe cover locked to the book'back,a sharp pull upon the rings might causethe support to slide" out from engagement withthe hooked margins 14'and 15 if the upward movement of the metal were not arrested by: the'contact of'the tog'gleplates and'the shoulder.

' Various modifications of "form of both booster'lever and support are illustrated in V Figs. 7 to l4. In Fig. 7,-the booster lever 55 is provided with 'afthumb arm 56, a definite fulcrum section 57, a connecting arm58, and

a lifting arm 59which is arrangedtofpass '70 16 is flexibleand the support 18"is rigidly a a V beneath thetoggle plates andto lift thenn In 1 7 this insta'nce,'the narrowed portion 61 and the head 62 form lockingmeans only and are not called upon to carry anyof the operating.

1 .The boosterlever ma back of the support outwardlyrather than from the front inwardly, as shown in Figs.

with two small inwardly turned'lugs 63 and be'i'nserted from a.

' 9 to 14'. In Fig.9, the support is provided 64 which take. theplace. of the shoulder 22, .4

previously described. The booster lever 65 is pivoted along the upper margin 6610f the a support and is retained in position by the engagement ofiits downwardly turned lifting arm 67 with the slots 68, 69cut' in the toggle a plates. Lugs 71 and 72protrudin'g laterally from the booster in line with its fulcrum engage with'the vertical portions'of the lugs 63 and64 and prevent the lateral displacement ofthe supportn73. v As is indicated in Fig.

-12, the'iform'of supportmaybe that original 1y shown, and in this case the booster lever is first assembled bypassing its thumb arm 74 through the, slot"75.f The booster may also be arranged to pass acrossftheends of the toggle plates and then beneath them lifting the pl'atesby contaot'of the lifting arm 76 with the under faces 77 ,of, theftoggl'e plates, as is shown in Figs, 13'and14. NVha't I claim,'therefore,is-:

1, In'a loose leaf binder, a, plate arched it transversely with the crown up and thejsides turned iDWardIyQprOng-b'earing toggle memform a toggle joint and having their remote edges mounted to rotate ontheinturned sides of the plate and bearing a -slot adjacenttheir ends, 'a' fitting extending into the end of the arch andengaging with the inturned sides of the plate, and a booster lever fulcrumecl on,

.the fitting, andhaving one arm extending through the f slot and cooperating with the toggle joint at a slotto open the prongs,

2.In a loose'leaf binder, a plate-arched -,,transversely with the crown up andkthesidesg turned inwardly,-prong-bearing toggle memfbers articulated, at their adjacentedgesjjto having an arm passing through the slot and cooperating with the toggle members to openthe prongs. V g

3. In a loose leaf binder, a platearched 1 transversely with the crown up and the sides turned inwardly, prong-bearing toggle members articulated at their adjacent edges to form a toggle joint and having their remote edges mounted to rotate on the inturned sides of the plate and having transverse slots adjacent their ends, a fitting comprising a body member engaging with the inturned sides of the plate and adapted to cooperate with attaching means for a cover, an upturned end on the body member and a booster lever extending through a slot in the upturned end and having one arm extending through the slots in the toggle plates and beneath the plates to lift them. i

spring, toggle plates supported in the hooked margins of said spring and having a transverse slot adjacent to their ends, a booster support having a tongue extending beneath binder mechanism, a booster lever. pivotedv upon the closure, a-portion of the lever dis- 4. A loose leaf binder having an arched the toggle plates and an end closure for the thereby, a support for the lever substantially closing the end of the binder and having a tongue overlying the book back within the binder, and a head forming the end of said arm adapted to engage the under surface of the toggle plates and to'liftthem'.

8-. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of-articulated toggle plates each having a transverse slot adjacent one end,'a support for a booster lever having a tongue lying within the bind-v er and. a lever support at an angle thereto, a booster lever fulcrumed upon the support, and .an arm uponthe lever engaged by the slots. I j

9. In loose leaf binder, a boosterleverhaving a portionadapted topassthrough a'pair of articulated toggle plates and to lift said'plates, a support for the'lever comprising a tongue and an end closure, means to pivotthe lever upon the support, and means to retain the ;support-within the I binder.

10. A loose leaf binder having a spring back, articulated toggle plates mounted in the spring back, a booster support havinga 99 tongue extending inwardly beneath the toggle plates and above the spring back, a booster lever pivoted on the booster support above 1 the toggles and having a thumb arm and an operating arm, a reduced portion on the operating arm passing through the toggles and I a head upon said arm. adapted to lift the' plates.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES C. DAWSON.

posed against the outer face of the closure to prevent displacement of the mechanism, and a portion of the lever engaged by the slots in the toggle plates. i

5. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of articu: lated toggle plates, each having a transverse slot adjacent to one end, a spring eng gi g I the outer margins of said plates, a booster lever fulcrumed above the plates and having an arm extending across the ends of the plates and then under said plates to lift.

them, a portion of said arm passing through the slots and retaining'the lever in position thereby, and a support for the lever having a tongue parallel to the axis of the'binder and an end portion normal thereto.

6. In a loose leaf binder,- a support, a, booster lever fulcrumed in a transverse slot in the support, an operating arm of the lever extending inwardly beyond the slot and I 'a retaining element on said arm engaged by the toggle plates of the binder.

lated toggle plates, each havinga transverse slot adjacent to one end, a spring engaging the outer margins of said plates, a booster lever having a portion of its operating arm 6 extending through said slots and retained- 7 In a loose leaf binder, a, pair of articu 

